Starting gate for harness horses



Dec. 19, 1950 s. s. PHILLIPS STARTING GATE FOR HARNESS HORSES OriginalFiled July 18, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVE NTOR BY dm & ATTQRNE:

Dec. 19, 1950 8.6. PHILLIPS STARTING cm: FOR HARNESS HORSES OriginalFiled July 18, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 19, 1950 s. G. PHILLIPSSTARTING GATE FOR HARNESS HORSES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed July18, 1946 TOR Illlill'li! I iiiiL Dec. 19, 1950 s. G. PHILLIPS STARTINGcm: FOR HARNESS HORSES Original Filed July 18, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR Dec. 19, 1950 s. cs. PHILLIPS STARTING cm: FOR HARNESS uoaszs 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed July 18, 1946 Reissued Dec. 19, 1950STARTING GATE FOR HARNESS HORSES Stephen G. Phillips, Garden City, N. Y.

Original No. 2,497,370, dated February 14, 1950, Serial No. 684,584,July 18, 1946. Application for reissue May 5, 1950, Serial No. 160,346

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent butforms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italicsindicates the additions made by reissue Claims.

This invention relates to a starting gate for harness horses. The objectof the invention is to provide a device in the form of a barrier or gatefor use in lining up the horses in harness racing events so that whenthey reach the starting line they will be properly alined for an evenstart of a race.

The invention is embodied in an automobile provided with foldable gatewings. When not in use the wings are folded against the body of theautomobile. When used for training, exercising or for the alining of thehorses in a race the wings are swung outward from the automobile to forma straight barrier or gate at the rear of the automobile across theraceway.

The operation of the gate wings is controlled by the starter who ridesin the automobile facing the rear. He also controls the speed of theautomobile, the latter otherwise being driven by a chauffeur. The wingscarry number plates whereby the starter may direct the movements of aparticular horse by calling its number to the driver of that horse. Thenumbers may be illuminated for use when visibility is poor or whenracing at twilight.

The starting gate according to this invention is of great importance andadvantage in the sport of harness racing. It provides a convenientpractical means for alining the horses before a race. It is also ofadvantage in training and exercising horses by compelling them to run atan even selected speed.

The invention is disclosed in a starting gate arranged and constructedas hereinafter set forth and as illustrated in the accompanying drawingsin which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the automobile showing the wingsfolded, details bei-ng omitted.

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the automobile showing the gate wingspartly unfolded.

Fig. 3 is a side view of one half of the gate in gate forming positionwith parts broken away.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagram of cables which are used to operate the gate wings.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical central sectional view of the gate wings,with parts broken away. The section is taken on 1ine 5-45 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of'a part shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail bottom view of the outer wing hinge.

Fig. 9 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 9 in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the operating mechanism for moving the gatewings.

Fig. 11 is an outline view showing parts of Fig. 10 in folded position.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of a fender lock for locking the wings tothe automobile when not in use as a gate.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of a number plate taken on the line l3-l3 ofFig. 3.

Figs. 14 and 15 are power diagrams.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the starting gate according to thisinvention includes an automobile I having a motor 2 and all the otherusual automobile operating elements, not shown. The drivers seat isindicated at 3 behind the steering wheel. The motor drives an aircompressor 4 which supplies air pressure to an air cylinder 5. In thelatter moves a piston 6 with a stem I to which is secured a double facedrack 8 which engages two idler gears 9, 9, one on each side. Each gear 9drives a gear quadrant l0 which operates the inner gate wing around aninner hinge H. To the hinge H there is secured an inner gate wing [2having an outer hinge l3 upon which is pivoted an outer gate wing 14.With the wings in closed position as in Figure 1, the gate wings arefolded, one within the other, against the automobile. When air pressureis admitted to the air cylinder 5, the rack 8 moves out from thecylinder to unfold the gate wings at the rear of the automobile, seeFigure 2, until the two wings on each side are in alinement, Figures 3and 4. When thus alined the four gate wings, two on each side of themedial line of the automobile, form a starting gate at a right angle tothe racing direction. The inner wing l2 consists of an upper and a lowertubular member l5 and IT, respectively. The outer wing consists of upperand lower tubular members l8 and 19, respectively.

The wings are moved by an operatingmechanism shown in Figures 5 through12. As shown in Figure 6 the inner wing members I 6 and I! are carriedby upper and lower housing 22 and 23 respectively. The housings areconnected to rotate together by a vertical hollow driving tube shaft 24to which the housings are connected as by key lugs indicated at 25, 25in dotted lines. The upper housing 22 fits upward against a housing 25on a brace l5 which extends between the hinges l l for support. Thelower housing 23 is hollow and made in two parts, one upper and onelower. Within the housing 23 there is mounted a cable pulley 21 which iskeyed to a vertical shaft 28. The latter extends from the chassis 3!) ofthe automobile upwards through the drive shaft 24. The upper end of theshaft 28 is bolted at 3| to the housing 25 on the brace 15. The pulley2'1 and the shaft 28 are non-rotatable and fixed, whereas the two Winghousings 22 and 23 connected through the driving shaft 24 are rotatablearound the shaft 28. when the quadrant Ill, which is boltedto thehousing23, is operated. "The entire housing 23 is rotated by the gearquadrant IE! and through the connection 24, the upper housing 22 rotateswith the lower housing. The two housing halves at 23 are boltedtogether-asindicated:

at 33. Within the housing 23 ,is..also.. mounted a double idler pulley35.

The large pulley 21 carries two -,cab1e: tension disks 3% and 3?. Eachdisk'isseparately rotatable by a worm gear 38 and wormia39. 'fy'z'Iheends'a'of the cables which operate the outerwings are secured to thecable disks and by rotating'the .slatter by means of, the worm, gear-and worm the tension of the cables may be adjusted. Access to the twoworms 39, only one is shown, is

#h t ough: epeninga4l-4fi in the ;housing; 23.

The cables will be explainedbelow.

'1 Theiouter endsqof .theq-innerwing members i5 and :l l.--suppor.tshooter-hinge pim 45;=Figure-.6,

in housing 5 and M, respectively. .Within.-the

-.lower housing 4T the-hinge pin carries; :a pulley 48. A double idlerpulley A9 is. also "mounted, -,-in the housin il. Thethinge pinis-pr-ovided'with from Figures 7 -to=9 that when theinnerandmutenwingsareeunfolded r-to form the gate, the

movements of the outer. wings .-sis "arrested when the noseszfifl-abutthe tubes 62 and thewingsare .-then alined. w The construction-of ithewings (and. shin-gee -of--- course alike on- -both-.- sides of. thesautomobile; though-only :one side is shown.

'The': gate'-\Vings areoperated by means of cables, :see diagramin---Figu1=e 5. One-cable 11-0 has its;;inner end secured to thetensiondisleSB. 1 The --cable. then; passes around-the. larger-pulley:21, overfithe --idler-. pulieys M35 and. 49;- and ...then .-:twice:around the outer hinge pulleyi-zda where the outer end of the cablelomissecured to; the

g-pulley-at ii I. Anothercable12 has its inner-end -secured to; theother cabledisk fi L -passes then =over tth8;1$2tid ddIer'pul-Ieysandtwice around the outer hinge pulley 18 where the outerwe-ndeof 'Ehe',.cables run When the doublefacedvrack; -8 -isymved ;in-

:wardly )in the 1 air cylinder 5, the gears- .19 s and quadrants H!:areactuated ,;to swing the inner :aving pl2'through an angleofninety-de rees from :gaterpositionas ;in ----IF;ig,ure. .10, to foldedr-position, r :as in.--E :g\1re'1l. *Fig: 5 the *cables,'.diSks1sand":pulleys areshow-n in wing-uni'olded -position-cor wresponding to Fig.10. --When thenwings are 'gf01d6dd3h856 parts are movedw-througlranqang-le -of=ninetydegrees upwardly to theleftinEig. 5. 'Hence: thedistances between $116 tension '1' disks :"3 6,-.-3l ;on.-the one hand;and the pulleys. 3.5,, 49 candithezcablesecuring points ."Ll El 2; onthe other :ha-nd; .are increased; as 1may,be.-seen .irom thezdottedigeositionof 3131 16373 35. .fllheturnswf the It. will be, clear{lo-moved in the :opposite directions and the wings are unfolded intogate forming position. The cables-pass through the tubular wing membersi i]. :Thehousings are bored to provide passage fonthecablesqasrindicated at 14 in Figure 6.

siwheuthezrwings are folded as in Figure 1 they are, locked to theautomobile by a fender locl,"*Fi'gure 12. To the fender i5 is secured ahollow housing" 16 forming a fixed overhanging hook H which contains arubber cushion 18. In the housing is pivoted at 59 a hook 80 having a-tail 8| .to which is, attached a spring 82. .As the ,.inner. wing.Swings -towards. ,the automobile. the slower vwing member .l 7 moves inover. the movable shook BlLdepressing the sarneand-ccmesto, rest.-.against.the rubber cushion 1.8..as.shownthe'hook .8-..h eing. movedup behind thamember .I 1 by .the spring 82 as will be understood to lockthe .Wing tome-automobile. The .wingis released bymeans pita dependingrelease. lever. 85. pivotedat. 1.9. -Tyh6-1QV1rhaS8v catch 8$whichengages the ,tail B i-.to-,lower.the110011.36 to release thawing. .AJeull rod S'Loperates the-lever.

wings carryilluminated number ,platesas shown inFigurelS. Eachplatecomprises a housin 99 suitably attached tothe Win T.he.hous-,ing-..is. ,cut outtoiorm the "number .it .is to repre- .sent. and the,cut out .portions are .on the. inside coveredwith transparent material.91. Thusithe numbers face bothways. and are illuminated by .co electriclamps 92. Thewires to the lampsare .vnotshown but are.connectedto.thelighting systemqrof. the automobile .in an..obvioussnfihher. Th.e.outer .tips..of .the outer wings .are removable-as=at-95 .to-adjuststhe length of. the gate. As :5 shown in Fig. 3 theends of thawings are...in.the dormof loops .95 which areslidably- .heldin the tubes 18, .19 .of the frame so thatthe loops may ,bewmoved in orvout.

The operation .ofthe starting gate is controlled (if). by the starter.who .mayhave a seat. ill!) .inv the .automobilein front of a control box.Iill. "The starter faces the horses. For the .purposeof .un-.derstanding. the invention-it suffices to refer to ,the-operation -ofthe. wings. and the control of rthe-speedof the automobile. Thelattercontrol is indicated diagrammatically in Figure'l. jjThe .control box.hasa handle 1H2 .operatiyeiyconnested, as :-.by..a flexible shaft 1&3or. ilike .means, -.to;.the gas control .valve .Ifiiwhich regulates;;the

co supply of :fue1.. -gas.to ..the .motor. 2..'in. .the;;.usual .manner.,The starter. therefor byv manipulating the handle. 152 controls the gassupplyand the speed of the automobile. .Whenheputs, thehan- ,dle .in.neutral, position the car. is controlled by of. the chaufieur. Thecontrolbox has a two. way valve operated Joya handle; LE5. The .valveiisshowninFigures l4 and 1.5 .at-tilfi andhas .two ports [Bland J98. Figure14 showscthe wing dosing. power cycle.

fie rlllith the valve. in. the position. .shownair pressure from astorage tank condenserllflilcpasses to .the valve d135, ,through port,LfiB-andpipe M2 tosthc air cylinder 5. The storage tank is providedwith .,a --pressure-;gage Lil); and .safetycvalve HA. :The :5 piston 6is then mdvedrinward to .cause .the .rack

8 to close the gate wings, compare Figure 11. The exhaust pressure fromthe cylinder 5 passes through pipes [I4 and H5 to valve port I01 andout. through a muffler H6. The power rack 8 carries a cam III! forclosing a cam valve H9 in the pipe I5 near the end of the stroke. Apressure reducing valve I is provided in the reduced pressure pipe I2 I.At the end of the piston stroke the cam IIB closes the cam valve H9 andthe reduced exhaust pressure leaks through the reducing valve I20. Thusan air cushion is created within the air cylinder in front of the pistonto cushion the closing stroke operation. During the closing operationcheck valve I38 in the pipe I2I is open and check valve I24 in pipe H2is open. The closing pressure is shown on the gage I25 and handle valveI26 is used for regulating the pressure.

Figure 15 shows the gate opening power cycle. When the valve I06 ismoved to opening position, air pressure passes from the tank I09 tovalve port I00 and through pipe I28 with open check valve I34 to the aircylinder. The piston then moves outward to open the gate, compare Figure10. The exhaust pressure passes from the air cylinder through a reducingvalve I32 through pipes I with open check valve I33 to the valve portID! to muflier I I6 and out. During the opening operation the checkvalves I33 and I34 are open.

In addition to the foregoing mechanisms the starting gate device may beprovided with a loud speaker system, not shown. During the lining up ofthe horses the starter issues his directions to obtain a perfectalinement. When the starting line has been reached, the automobiledrives away and the race begins. Usually the horses will begin runningto the starting line a couple of hundred yards behind the same.

I claim:

1. A starting gate for harness horses comprising in combination anautomobile, a pair of gate forming wing members on each side of theautomobile, each pair of wing members consisting of A Starting gate forharness horses comprising in combination an automobile, a pair offolda'ble wings on each side of the automobile, each pair consisting ofan inner wing pivotally supported on the automobile and an outer wingpivotally supported in the free end of the inner wing,

means on said inner wing for moving the latter from a folded positionalongside the automobile to an unfolded gateforming position at a rightangle to the automobile and back again, mechanism in the automobile foractuating said inner wing moving means, cooperating means in each ofsaid inner wings for automatically moving the outer wings from a foldedposition alongside the inner wings to a gate forming position inalinement with the inner wings when the latter are moved as aforesaidand back again, and cooperating means on said wings for alining the samein gate forming position.

3. A starting gate for harness horses comprising in combination anautomobile, foldable wing members consisting of an inner wing pivotallysupported on each side of the automobile at the rear end thereof andadapted to be folded into an inactive position alongside the automobileand unfolded into a starting gate forming position at right angles tothe automobile, mechanism in the latter for operating Said inner wings,an outer wing pivotally supported in the free end of each of said innerwings and adapted to be folded against the latter into an inactiveposition and unfolded therefrom into a gate forming position inalinement with the inner wings, cable power means in the inner wingsautomatically operable to move the outer wings as aforesaid when theinner wings are operated and means on the automobile for locking thefolded wings thereto.

4. A race track. starting gate for harness horses comprising incombination an automobile, a starting gate member on each side of theautomobile, means pivotally connecting said gate members to theautomobile to swing toward the same into a position alongside thereofand to swing away from the automobile into an outward perpendicularposition relative thereto while the automobile is moved along a racetrack, gearing means on each of said members and a power actuatedmechanism on said automobile permanently engaging said gearing means tosimultaneously swingably operate the said gate member as aforesaid.

5. A starting gate for harness horses comprising in combination anautomobile, a gate forming member on each side thereof, means pivotallyconnecting said gate members to the automobile to swing toward the sameinto a position alongside thereof and to swing away from the automobileto an outward perpendicular position relatine thereto in a horizontalplane spaced above a race track while the automobile moves thereon,cooperating mechanisms on the automobile and on each of the said gateforming members operable at will to simultaneously swing the said gateforming members as aforesaid, means in said cooperating mechanisms tomaintain the said gate forming members in their said outward positionfor a predetermined period of time and locking means on the automobileto automatically loclc said gate members thereto in their said alongsideposition.

STEPHEN G. PHILLIPS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent or the original patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 647,166 Stedeker Apr. 10, 1900673,997 Chapman May 14, 1901 939,703 Jones Nov. 9, 1909 1,822,080Cassidy Sept. 8, 1931 1,876,839 Birtwistle et a1. Sept. 13, 19321,916,951 Healy July 4, 1933 2,200,230 Hojnowski May 7, 1940 2,319,420Macksoud May 18, 1943 2,410,543 Kester Nov. 5, 1946

